Type-writing machine.



mvEm-om ATTOR Y A. G.'F. KUROWSKI.

TYPE wnmus MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24. 19I5- Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

WITNESSES.

UNITED STATES -IPATEN T OFFICE.

ALFRED G. F. KUROWSKI, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOODTYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Application filed .Tune 24, 1915.

To all /t0), it may ('om'w-rn lie it ln'iown that .l, Anrnnn (i. F. KU-JRUWSKI, a subject of the German Empire, residing in Brooklyn borough,in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvemerits in Type-VVriting Machines, of Whichthe following is a. specification.

The present invention relates to a device for use in connection withprinting and stenciling machines. but more particularly for use in ty1'c'\-vriting machines having rolary platens, to hold ards, labels and thelike in position against the platen during the printing or stencilingoperation. The relatively small and varying sizes of cards, and thematerial of which they are commonly composed render a card-holdingattachment especially desirable'in typewriting machines; and obviously,facility and security of attachment of the device to the machine andeasy adjiustability of the same to different sizes of cards aredesirable features in such a device. The manipulation of such a deviceinvolves not only its attachment to, and removal from, the machinewhenever desired, but also the insertion into and removal of cards fromthe device when it is so attached, and the adjustment of thecard-holding fingers or members to cards of different sizes.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce to a minimum thenumber of parts and movements involved in manipulating the device; and,in attaining this end, the card-holding plate of the present inventionin its preferred form, is pivoted on an at tachment to the platen so asto have a limited rocking movement away from the platen for'theinsertion of a card, and a greater rocking movement in the samedirection which automatically detaches the device as a unit from theplaten, the same parts and movement thus serving both operations, to thegreat simplification of the device.

A further important feature of the invention is the mechanism by whichthe device is removably attached and locked to the platen; the lockingof the device to the platen being automatic upon mere pressure of thedevice onto the platen; and its unlocking being equally simple, and dueto force exerted in the opposite direction the rocking movement of thecard holdingplate, above described. The preferred form Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918. Serial No. 35,984.

of lock is a. spring clutch; such as a springpressed ball carried by theplaten and adapted to engage a shallow recess in the face of theattaching element. Such a lock is entirely efhcient in the presentll'lVCl'ltlOll owing to the novel manner in which the device is carriedand sustained against disturbing forces.

In order that the printing area n'iav be well distributed over theplaten, and 'un-- equal wear thus avoided, a feature of the invention isa novel support for the Card holding device, whereby the (leviesv may bescciu'cd to the platen at substantially any place in the periphery ofthe latter.

The card-holding plate has certain novel features, permitting ofespecially easy adpstment of the same to cards of different sizes, andinsuring firm and reliable engagement of the same with the card.

Other features and advantages will here inafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the platen with the card-holderattached.

Fig. 2 is av perspective view of the cardholder in the position itassumes in being released from the platen.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the platen, with card-holder attached and inposition for the insertion of a card.

Fig. 4: is a view similar to that of Fig. 3 except that the card-holderhas been lifted to release it from the platen.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the inside of the disk on the platen toWhich the cardholder is secured. i

Fig. 6 is an end view of the disk shown in Fig. 5, with thecardholder-attaching member in place thereon.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the spider which assists in holdingtogether the parts shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the platen 1 is shown as mounted on the shaft2, journaled in the platen frame 3 a type-bar 4 being shown at theprinting point, and the usual pressure rollers 5 and shaft 6 being shownin dotted lines. The platen shaft 2 carries at its ends the hand wheels7, and also the line-space ratchet wheel 8.

The card-holder (see particularly Fig. 2) comprises a sheet metal plate9, curved to conform to the curvature of the platen, and carrying twospring metal card-holding fingers 10 and 11, each preferably having aroughened or indented under surface 12 for better gripping of the card.The finger 10 is fixedly attached to the upper surface of" the plate 9by rivets 13; and both fingers are offset at 1 1 over the edge of theplate 9 to present their car-gripping surfaces at the plane of the card.The finger 11 is ad justable along the plate 9 to accommodate the holderto cards of different widths; and, for this purpose, the plate 9 isslotted at 15 to engage headed guide pins 17 on the finger 11; and, at16, to engage rivets 18, which also connect the finger 11 with an H-shaped leaf spring 19. This spring, while permitting easy movement of thefinger-piece 11 along the plate, exerts enough pressure thereon to holdthe finger-piece against d splacement. The spring, by reason of itslength, prevents any rocking of the finger, such as might occur byreason of loose fit of the pins and rivets in the slots, and thus alsoacts to maintain the gripping surfaces 12, parallel with the face of theplatenl or attachment of the card-holder to the platen, the latter hasconcentrieally secured at one end thereof, by means of screws 20, a disk21. The inside face of this disk, that is to say, the face thereof whichlies against the platen, is channeled to provide pockets 22, shown assix in number, radially disposed around the disk at equi-angulardistances apart. From the outer face of the disk there is drilled intoeach pocket 22 a hole 23, which serves as a seat for the ball 24 of aball clutch. Secured by screws 25 to the outer face of the disk 21 is aspider 26 having radial spring arms 27, in number equal to the number ofpockets 22, and each of which has a conical recess 28 in registrationwith a ball seat 23 in the disk 21. The bases of the cones formed by therecesses are at that face of the spider which abuts the disk 21; so thateach arm of the spider is a spring seat for one of the balls, tending tohold the loall against the end of the platen, but permitting the ball tobe forced slightly outward when the part to be held thereby is forcedinto the corresponding pocket or channel 22. The piece to be engaged andheld by the ball clutch is a tongue 29 on a plate 30, to which thecardholder is pivotally connected at 31; and the tongue 29 thereforeserves to removably connect the card-holder and the platen. The tongue29 (see Fig. 6) is of a width and size to permit it to fit snugly in anyone of the channels 22. At the endof the tongue on the outside facethereof is a beveled cut 32 which, as the tongue enters the channel,acts as a cam to force the ball outward against the action of itsspring-retaining arm 27 The tongue 29 has also a conical recess 33, inits outside face, so that as the tongue is forced home in any channel22, the recess 33 finally comes into registration with the ball, and

the spring arm of the spider snaps the ball into the recess 33, therebylocking the member 30 to the platen. The taper of the recess 33 is suchas to permit withdrawal of the member 30 upon application of reasonableforce, without however permitting accidental displacement of that memberafter the parts are locked. In forcibly Withdrawing the member 30, thetapered wall of the recess 33 acts as a cam to force out the ball in thesame manner as the recess 33 at the end of the tongue. The member 30 iscurved to the curve of the disk 21, and when the parts are locked, asshown in Fig. 6, overlies the periphery of the disk to provide a firmseat for the cardholder. The ends of the lock plate 30 are cut away at30 so as not to interfere with the balls in the channels next adjacentthe channel in which the holder is locked, and have squared ends 30,which in Fig. 6 position, closely overlie the corners 22 of thosechannels, thereby providing further rigidity to the seating of theholder.

The card-holder plate 9 has a turned over extension 31 which serves asan arm by means of which the card-holder may be pivotally connected at31 to the lock plate 30. This turned-over part 84: is extended beyondthe pivot 31 to provide a tooth 35, which, in the position of the partsshown in Fig. 6, is removed from the periphery of the disk 21 a distancesufiicient to permit the card-holder to be lifted or rocked up to Fig. 3position, by means of a finger-piece 36, for the positioning, of a cardbeneath the card fingers 10 and 11. The tooth 35, by engagement with theperiphery of the disk 21, acts as a stop to determine thiscard-inserting movement of the holder. A spring 37 attached at one endto a pin 38 on the holder, and at the other end to a pin 39 on the lockplate 30, serves to hold the card-holder against the platen, and toreturn the same to such position when the finger-piece 36 is releasedafter insertion of a card. A stop pin 40 on the lock plate 30, byengagement with the end wall of a recess 41 in the holder extension 34,determines the spring-actuated throw of the card-holder around the lockplate.

The tooth 35 which limits the lifting, or card-inserting, movement ofthe holder, has also an important function in the removal of thecard-holder from the platen. This function is that of a jack or cam tolift the lock tongue 29 out of the lock disk 21. The removal of theholder from the platen is effected by a mere continuation of the liftingmovement of the holder in inserting a card. The latter movement, it willbe remembered, requires just effort enough to overcome the tension ofthe spring 37, and is determined when the tooth 35 strikes the edge ofthe lock disk 21, as shown in Fig. 3. A further effort in the samedirection (see Fig. 4') causes the tooth 35 to act as a jack or cam, ormore precisely, as part of a lever fulcrumed at the point of contact ofthe tooth on the lock disk 21 and carrying at 31 the lock plate 30; andthis lever action causes the lock plate 30 and all attached parts to bewithdrawn from the lock disk 21.

It will therefore be seen that a minimum number of movements, of extremesimplicity, are required in placing, operating, and removing the holder.The multiplication of the number of ball clutches, when in fact but oneis used at a time, is that the printing area may be distributed, andunequal wear on the platen be thus avoided.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1.. The combimltion with a platen, of a card-holder comprising a plateopposed to the platen, card-holding fingers mounted on the side of theplate away from the platen but extended beyond the edge of the plate andoffset toward the platen for engagement with a card on the latter, oneof said fingers having a pin-and-slot engagement with. its supportingplate for adjustment longitudinally of the platen, and a leaf spring onthe side of said plate opposite said adjustable finger, and connectedwith said finger through the slot in the plate to hold the finger in anyadjusted position.

2. The combination with a platen, of a card-holder comprising a plateopposed to the platen, card-holding fingers mounted on the side of theplate away from the platen but extended beyond the edge of the plate andoffset toward the platen for engagement with a card on the latter, oneof said fingers having a pin-and-slot engagement with its supportingplate for adjustment longitudinally of the platen, and a leaf springextending lengthwise of the slot in the plate on the side of said. plateopposite said adjustable finger and connected with said finger throughthe slot in the plate to hold the finger in any adjusted position, andto hold the finger with its gripping surface parallel to the face of theplaten.

3. The combination with a platen, of a card-holder detachably secured tothe platen,

said holder when attached to the platen,-

having a movement thereon to permit of insertion of cards, a stop forlimiting said card inserting movement, and means whereby said stop maybe used at will to release the holder from the platen.

4. The combination with a platen, of a card-holder detachably secured tothe platen, said holder when attached to the platen, having a movementthereon to permit of insertion of cards, a stop for limiting said cardinserting movement and means Wherev further effort in the same directioncauses said stop automatically to release the holder from the platen.

The combination with a platen, of a card-holder, detachably secured tothe platen and being pivotally mounted thereon to be lifted for theinsertion of cards, a stop for determining the card-inserting movementof the holder around its pivot, and means whereby suflicient pressureagainst said stop causes the stop to release the holder from the platen.

6. The combination with a platen, of a card-holder, detachably securedto the platen and being pivotally mounted thereon to be lifted for theinsertion of cards, a tooth on the holder, and a surface against whichthe tooth is swung by said card inserting movement of the holder, tolimit said movement, the connection of the holder to the platen being ayielding connection so that further effort to swing the holder aroundits pivot after the tooth has struck said surface will cause the toothto act as a lever to force the holder from the platen.

7. The combination with a rotatable platen, of a card holder, a springclutch, one member of the clutch being carried by the holder and theother by the platen, and the clutch members being positioned to engageeach other when in registration, upon move ment of the holderperpendicularly toward the platen axis.

8. The combination with a rotatable platen, of a card holder, a springclutch, one member of the clutch being carried by the holder and theother by the platen, and the clutch members being positioned to engageeach other when in registration, upon movement of the holderperpendicularly to ward the platen axis, said clutch being yielding sothat a suflicient pull on the holder will cause the holder to bereleased from the platen.

9. The combination with a rotatable platen, of a card-holder, aretaining plate on one end of the platen having a radial channeltherein, and a projection on the holder adapted to enter and be lockedin said channel.

10. The combination with a rotatable platen having a disk fast to oneend thereof, of a plate adapted to be seated upon the periphery of saiddisk, a projection extending from the plate into the edge of the diskfor interlocking the two, a clutch for holding said parts interlocked,and a card-holder carried by the plate.

11. The combination with a rotatable platen having a disk fast to oneend thereof, of a plate adapted to be seated upon the periphery of saiddisk, a projection extending from the plate into the ed e of the diskfor interlocking the two, a c utch for holding said;.pa.1'tsinterlocked, and a card-holder' carried by the plate, said card-holderbeing movable on the plate to release said clutch.

12. The combination with a rotatable platen havinga disk fast to one endthereof, of a plate adapted to be seated upon the periphery of saiddisk, a projection extending from the plate into the edge of the diskfor interlocking the two, a clutch for holding said parts interlocked,and a card-holder pivoted to the )ltliIO and having a part there ofadapted to be swung against the periphery of the disk to lift the plateoff the disk.

13. The combination with a rotatable platen having a disk fast to oneend thereof,

of a plate adapted to be seated upon the peri 'ihery of said disk, aprojection extending from the plate into the edge of the disk forinterlocking the two, a clutch for holding said parts interlocked, and acard-holder pivoted to the plate and having a part thereof adapted to beswung against the periphery of the disk, by the movement of the holderon its pivot, to lift the plate oil the disk.

14. The Combination with a rotatable platen having a disk fast to oneend thereof. of a. plate adapted to be seated upon the pe riphery ofsaid disk, a projection extending from the plate into the edge of thedisk for interlocking the two, a spring-controlled clutch forautomatically holding said parts when they are interlocked, and acard-holder carried by the plate.

15. The combination with a rotatable platen having a disk fast to oneend thereof, of a card-holder having an attachment comprising a tongue,recessed to receive a ball, and adapted to enter an interior radialchan- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the nel in said end disk, said disk carrying a ball looselyseated in a hole which extends from the channel to the outer face of thedisk, and a spring for holding the ball on its seat and for causing theball to enter the recess in the tongue to lock the latter to the disk.

16. The combination with a rotatable platen having a disk fast to oneend thereof, of a card-holder having an attachment cornprising a tongue,recessed to receive a ball, and adapted to enter an interior radialchannel in said end disk, said disk carryin a ball loosely seated in ahole which exten s from the channel to the outer face of the disk, :1.spring for holding the ball on its seat and for causing the ball toenter the recess in the tongue to lock the latter to the disk, and camsurfaces on the tongue to force the ball outward. against the action ofthe spring when the parts are pressed together or drawn apart withsullieient force.

l7. The crnnbination with a rotatable platen, of a disk last to one endof the platen, said disk having a plurality of inner radial channels,and a hole leadii'ig from the outer face of the disk to each channel, aclutch ball in each hole, a spider attached to the outer face of thedisk and having a leaf spring arm crossing each of said holes to retainthe balls therein, a card-holder, and a projection on the holder,adapted to be passed into any one of the channels of the disk, andhaving a ball recess to receive the ball in that channel and so look theholder to the platen.

ALFRED G, F. KUROVVSKI.

Witnesses:

"W. O. VVEsTrHAL, JULIUs DUCKS'IINE.

Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

